SEATTLE (AP) – For the first time in a month, the Seattle Mariners offense that helped lift them back into playoff contention went absent and on a day Hisashi Iwakuma was far from his best.
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The New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners play a rubber game Wednesday afternoon. Initial X-rays were negative, but manager Scott Servais said Seager would get additional examination before the team left for its road trip. Past year we saw that all the time, and it’s rare now.
While the Mariners were silent, Sanchez continued to slug his way into the record books.
After birthday boy Brett Gardner and Didi Gregorius started the first inning off by hitting groundballs to second base, Gary Sanchez walked up to the plate and launched the first pitch thrown his way over the wall in left-center field, over a scoreboard and into the upper deck. And that includes the Seattle Mariners, who intentionally walked him twice on Wednesday.
“Let’s just say he shouldn’t have really been doing anything”, Girardi said.
It was the second meeting this season between the starters and only the 13th time two pitchers from Japan have started against each other in a major-league game.
Sanchez got the Yankees started, but Iwakuma was not sharp with his command. The Mariners got through the final three innings with Tony Zych (activated from the DL earlier in the day) and Wade LeBlanc (making his second appearance out of the bullpen).
“The first inning wasn’t good giving up the lead early”, Iwakuma said through an interpreter.
Seven home runs in the past nine games will quickly earn anyone respect.
And with a third-inning walk to Seth Smith, Tanaka ended a string of four straight starts and 132 batters without issuing a walk.
Masahiro Tanaka now has five starts this year of at least seven shutout innings, the most among AL starters.
Tanaka worked out of a jam in the second when Adam Lind singled with one out and took third on Leonys Martin’s line-drive single off the wall in right. Manager Joe Girardi said the fan appeared intoxicated and fell into a part of the dugout where no players were at that moment. “Also, they were trying to get some contact on the ball, so I just tried to place it in a good location where I could get some ground balls or possibly fly outs”. Seattle DH Nelson Cruz was pinch-hit for in the eighth inning due to back spasms.
Yankees: C Brian McCann was given the day off after catching Tuesday’s game.
Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees scores against catcher Chris Iannetta #33 of the Seattle Mariners in the second inning at Safeco Field on August 24, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. Initial X-rays were negative and Servais said after the game it was just a foot bruise.
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The return of Walker and James Paxton’s expected Thursday start leaves Seattle with six starters, so LeBlanc was put to use in long relief.
